I had the pleasure of attending the Breaking into Startups event hosted by Planted.

At this event I had the chance to listen to a great panel of professionals that have experienced both the employer side and the employee side. Now even though the event was targeted towards joining a small business or a startup, the topics touched upon can be applied to any size business you want to join.

The panel touched upon many topics that will help you as the job seeker get your foot in the door and stay employed. Here are the important tips below:

Self Awareness

You as the prospective employee need to be aware of your skills and where they will best fit. This all starts with whether you prefer to work for a startup or a larger corporation. When working in a small business, you can expect to be in rapidly growing environment. In a startup company, decisions will be made and implemented rather quickly. You will also receive more exposure to different job functions in a small business. One downside to working in a small business, is that there may not be many defined policies and less bureaucracy. If you are an individual who prefers to be in an environment where there is more order and established policies, than a larger business might be the best option for you.

The Interview

PREPARATION IS KEY!!!! Your resume may get you in the door, but it can all go down the drain at the interview if you are not ready. Keep in mind that employers today are not only looking for qualified candidates, but they also want to make sure you are aligned with their goals. I was able to get a quote from Toby Stein, the Director of Operations atAmino Apps and he stated “the most important thing is to understand what the company is trying to accomplish and the products it is providing to get there”. Now take a second and pretend you are a recruiter at a company conducting 20 interviews per day. You can imagine that after a while, all the answers you receive can start to sound the same. Don’t be a robot and have scripted answers. This is your time to let the company know why YOU are their best choice.

Keeping the job

You’ve figured out what type of business you want to work in, you did your research on the company and now you’ve successfully survived the interview and made it to being employed. Now, the real work begins and it is time to put your money where your mouth is. I want to share with you a powerful statement shared by Laura Marciano, Head of Customer Operations at Livestream in regards to expectations, “In my experience, as an employer, we need to be able to bring the right tools to the employee in order for them to be successful in the position. The employee needs to also have the attention and desire to learn”. In any healthy relationship you will find a perfect balance of commitment and communication. As the new employee, all you have to do is hold up your end of the bargain.

Follow these tips and you will be closer to your dream career sooner than you think.